Happy Sunny days

Over the past six weeks I have had the pleasure of the company of one of the game's finest. Sunil Gavaskar is a true gentleman with the patience of a saint.

We have just arrived in Mumbai for the finals after completing internal flight number fifteen, after a sudden change in travel plans enforced by the Bangalore blasts. Robin Jackman and I know by now that the journey from the baggage carousel to our transport needs to be taken slowly. Sunny always gets mobbed by well meaning, adoring fans and takes great care to not disappoint anyone as pens and scraps of paper are thrust his way to autograph.

Sunny and Sachin are cricketing gods in this land. Both are remarkable individuals and thoroughly deserve their elevated status. They are humble and classy and a delight to work with.

Sunny told me a fascinating story over a superb Indian meal the other night. He explained that, much like South Africa, India was at the end of the technology queue when televisions were introduced. As an enormously driven youngster growing up, he craved every bit of information regarding cricket from around the world. Newspapers carried some information but he desired more. He needed to see these great players he read so much about, so often. He devised a plan that would satisfy his insatiable cricketing appetite and feed his ambition.

He discovered, much to his delight, that the cinemas in Mumbai played a short news reel prior to the screening of the latest Bollywood movie. This was much the same as the bioscope feature at movie theatres in South Africa in the old days. At the end of the news reel which lasted only a few minutes there was always a sports summary that was dominated by snippets of cricket.

Sunny would purchase his full price ticket for the full length feature film and settle in his seat and await the precursor news. If he was lucky he would be entertained and captivated by about a minute of grainy footage showing world cricketing highlights. Those he idolised would briefly leap into full screen action and that was enough for him. Sometimes however there would be no cricket news or footage and despair would instantly replace anticipation as his wallet simultaneously suffered.

On a good day Sunny could not be happier. Once he got his cricketing fix from the news reel he would leap out of his seat and sprint with serious intent for the exit. He had another scheme in place. Sunny would realise that the staggered showing times of the latest movies would provide a unique opportunity. He could sprint from one cinema to the other in metropolitan Mumbai, and after purchasing a full price ticket at each, could sometimes catch about five minutes of precious cricket in an afternoon. That was utopia for a young Gavaskar.

On a bad day he would see cricket repeats or even nothing at all as news reels ignored his passion. One constant remained throughout. He never watched the Bollywood blockbusters!

The conversation was a fascinating snapshot of the formulation of a cricketing legend.

It is all a world away from one upcoming part of the IPL finals. When I am not commentating on the world feed I will be hurriedly donning special glasses and commentating on the action for 3D television. It will be the first time that cricket has been shown live in 3D and the fortunate viewers seated in cinemas throughout India will be uniquely entertained.

It's a far cry from Sunil Gavaskar's window on the game during his formative years.

Cricket these days has multiple dimensions.